Wire-bound-box-blank machine.



E` CRAIG.

WIRE BOUND aux BLANK MAcmNE.

APPLxcATlowHLEn nicas, wle. l n,

Patented Mm. 12, i913,

u] nl E. CRAIG.

WIRE BOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE.

APPLICATION man nic. 2s. 191e.

1,258,989. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 ""1 Us E qm) wm l uw) E. CRAIG1 wmE uuNn sox BL'ANK MACHINE.

AFPLICATKON FILED DEC. 28,)915.

' Patented 12, 1918.

9 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

E. CRAIG. WIRE BOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE.

, APPucmon msu use. zdms. A 1,258,989. Patented MM. 1ra un@ I QUIEN SHt/.X 4

EQ CRAIG.

WIRE BOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEc.2. Isls.

Patented Maux-12l 1918.

9 ,SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patnted 1111212. 191.8.

s suine-sniff e.

E. CRAIG.

WIRE BGUND BOX BLANK MACHINE.

APPucATmN min 0m25.191s.

Patent/ad Mar. 12,1918` I SHEETS-SHEET l E. CRAIG.

wmf sonno sox BLANK Immune.v l

APPLICATWI FILED DEC. 23. i916.

Patented 15m42.191s. l

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

E. CRA|G. WIRE BOUND BOX BLANK MACHINE.

APPLICAUON FILED DEC. 28. |916.

Patented Mar. 12k, 1918,

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Weses N 'o Wi #e @f/1 UNITED sTATFs PATENT oFFIoE.

EDWARD CRAIG, OF ST. OSEPH, MICHIGAN.

. WIRE-BOUND-BOX-'BLANK MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, EDWARD CRAIG, a citizen of the United States of America, and residentV of St. Joseph, Berrien county, Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wire Bound B0X Blank Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for making wire-bound box-blanks in general, but: more particularly t0 the manufacture of that particular form of boX-blank in which only some of the cleats of the box are secured thereto, during the manufacture of the blanks, so that the remaining cleats are not incorporated to fill the gaps in the rows of cleats on. the blank until the latter is folded around the end walls of the box, whereby in the manufacture of the. blanks the binding wires thereof are each staples to cleats only on every other section of the blank, thus leaving the wires staples only to the veneer or other sheet-material at the places where the gaps are left inthe parallcl IOWs of cleats on the inner surface of each blank.

Generally stated, therefore, the object of my invention is to provide a novel-1nd improved machine for making wire-hound box-blanks.

Another object is 'to provide a machine for making wire-bound box-blanks of the foregoing particular character in vwhich only sor 'if the cleat-s are secured to the blanks, curing the manufacture thereof, so

'that gaps, will be left -in the parallel rows of cleats of each blank.

A further object is to provide a machine of this kind having novel and improved means for preventing thc drivingof staples between blanks, as well as between thedif-- ferent sections of the same blank.

An additional object is to provide means for automatically changing the length of the staples. during the operation of making each bleak, so that long staples will be driven where the cleats occur. and whereby only short staples will be driven where thel cleats are omitted. thns avoiding the use of loney staples where they are not needed.

A further object is to obviate the necessity of using certain devices heretofore considered necessaryv in the manufacture of wire-bound box-blanks.

It is also an object to provide certain def- Serial No. 139,287.

tails and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general eiiiciency and desirability of a box-blank machine of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists'inmattcrs hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wirebound box-blank machine embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section on lin-e 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. l.

F ig. 4 is a vertical detail section on line /l-i in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5 5 in Fig. 3, looking toward the center of the machine.

i Fig. 6 is also a section on said line k5---5 Fig. 8 `is an enlarged detail View of certain'partsas shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9 -9 in Fig. 8. f

Fig. 10 is a. detail sectional view o n line 10-10 in Fig. 5.A Fig. 11 is a plan of'the'devic'e's shown in Fig. 10, being an enlarged section on line ll-ll'in Fig. 7. n p

Fig. l2 is a `perspective of one of the blocks employed on the endless link-belts for feeding the materials forward below the Staplers of `the machine, this. form of block being used at the places which are adjacent thc rear ends ofthe cleats of each' blank.

Fig. 13 1s av perspective of one of the blocks employed on said link-belts at the places which are adjacent the front ends of said cleats. x

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail sectional plan View of one of the stapler. heads. bemg ahorizontal section on line 14--14 in Fig. 17.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on line 15---15 in Fig. 14.

readily understood. The height of the portions f and 8, it will be seen, is such that they can only engage the rear edge of one sheet or section Y, thus preventing the automatic feeding forward from the bottom of the stack ot more than one section at a time. As soon as one section is fully removed from the bottom of the hopper, by the forward feeding movement of the chains D, the next section then drops down behind the previous section, so that in this way four sections are automatically deposited on the feed-chains for each blank. But where the blocks F are grouped together' tolform a space between blanks, no section Y can drop' downward until after these grouped blocks have passed, it being understood thatthere is one of these groups at each side of the machine, one for each link-belt, and the two groups being arranged directly opposite each other, thereby to insure the proper space between adjacent blanks. The guides B are provided with angle-irons 15, which form the inner sides of these guides. i Each linger e is provided with a notch 16 for the upstanding .anges of. these angle-irons 15, and the latter have their upper edges disposed in the erated in any suitable manner.

`horizontal plane of the shoulders v14t, so that when a section Y'Which has no cleats falls down at its rear edge, after the section be low is nearly out from under, the said edge will reston top of said angle-irons v15 and be held in position to be engaged by the upstanding portions f of the two blocks F as soon as the preceding section is entirely out from under the hopper. The inner sides of the hopper are provided with vertically disposed angle-irons 17 which are held in place by screws 18 inserted through slots 19 in the sides of the hopper. With this construction, the angle-irons 17 which are disposed in position to engage the corners of the sections of the blank, thus forming the hopper, can be moved toward and away from' each other at each side of the hopper,.thereby to accommodate cleats of dierentnlengths, anddiierent sizes of Sheetmaterial, depending upon the size and shape desiredfor the box-blanks. The two sides of the hopper, being secured to the guides B, are movable toward and away from each otherfwhen the `screws 10 are operated, so that the hopper will always be `of the proper size to-ahold sheetsof material for any desired `width ot blank. i The sprocket-chains or belts D can be op- For eX- ample, the shaft 2 may be provided with a ratchet-wheel 20, and the main drive-shaft H, disposed transversely at the bot-tom of the machine, and supported in bearings on the castings C, can be provided with an ec centric device h for operating the ratchetdogs or pawls 21 and 22 which are pivoted of said shaft. This arm has a slot 24: for

adjustmei'it of the end oit the pitman 25 that Y connects the arm with said eccentric device, so that the feed-stroke of the ratchet-mechanismtlnis provided can be changed or varied at will. A detent Q6 is pivoted on the handlever 27, to engage said ratchet-wheel 20, so that the ratchet-wheel will .not rotate while the pawls 21 and 22 are moving backward over the teeth This hand-lever 27 is pivoted on the shaft 2 and can be used for stepping the feed-chains or belts D forward, when such is necessary or desirable. Normally, the lever 27 may rest on the main frame, so that its back stroke or motion downward is limited.

The side frames or castings C are connected together by a Stationary bar 28 disposed above the sprocket-chains, and by a vertically reciprocating cross-bar 29, the latter being operated up and down on the `guides of the frame by the pitmen I which have their lower ends connected by eccentric devices i with the shaft H, so that the bar 29 is reciprocated up and down, its motion being timed properly with respect to the in.- termittent feeding motion of the link-belts D by which the materials are given-a stepby-step motion below said bar. As shown,

the blank is provided with three parallelv driven by a middle stapler-head J which is mounted on. the stationary bar 28, and the staple-former and driver oi which are suitably connected with the reciprocating bar 29, this stapler being of any suitable or desired character and disposed in position to drive the staples cross-wise, and preferably obliquely, of said binding wire.. A clenchblock j, ot any suitable character, is vmounted on the bar 13 below the stapler J and in position to clench the staples on the under side of the blank. A middle reel supplies the binding wire 3l to the stapler J, and a. reel 34 supplies the wire to this stapler for the staples, these reels being mounted re specti vely on the shafts or round bars 35 and 3G disposed transversely of the machine and suitably supported at their ends bythe main frame. The Staplers K and L, however, which drive the staples tor securing the binding wires 30 and l82 in place, are ot' special construction, inasmuch as these Ylili 4t2 for the oper not have any cleats. For example, theretore, the stall'iler L constructed as shown in F 14, 1,5, 16 and 17, being provided With. a narrow staple-former i. the short staples 38, and with a wider s i former-@i0 for making the staliiles staple-formera being of any or or welhknown forni, and b 'ng provided with pivoted loop-ijiars 4,1, winch are piroted on the trarne of the n'laehine, and having earns tion et these loep-bars in the usual and well-known manner. The Wire for-the staples is fed through the slots 43 at the lower ends oit these loop-bars, directly under the staple-forniers, and the staples are formed by bending the wire over the loopbars in the usual. n'ianner, each formel1' serving also as a wire-cutter to cnt oli' the proper length of wire. The former 39 n'lakes a short staple, because it cuts ott' a short length of wire, and the former at), which is much wider, cuts oli' a longer length ot wire and thus mak a longer staple. The two staple-driversaa slide up and down in. the bifureated ends of the staple-formera, in a manner that will be readily un eifstood, and have their Lipper ends rigidly connected With the bar 29, Whereas the staple-fo'liiners are yieldingly connected to said bar throi'agh the medium of rods 51.5 and compression springs 46, so that When the staple--orlners rest upon the top surface of the blank their downward movement Will cease and the staple-drivers will then nuove downward alone, causing the insertion of the staples in the blank. Wvhen the staple-foriners startdownward, to forni a staple on one or the other of the two lmp-bars 4:1, they are locked to the staple-drivers by the latches 47, which engage the upper ends of the stz'ipletorniers, and which aire pivoted on the stapledrivers, but as soon as these latches strike the statiomiry earns 48 the Staple-foirmers 39 and i0 are unlocked `and the drivers 411 are-tl'ien free to nieve downward alone. lVhen. the staples 58 are to be dri von,y wire is then ted only below' the sta-I ple-former 39; but when the staples 37 are to be made, the Wire is then fed only below the staple-former 4 0. In this way, the two staple-formels take turns at forming the staples, a number of short staples being driven in succession, and then a number of long staples being driven in succession, so that only the sections of the blank which have Cleats are provided with long staples,

these being necessary to fasten the wires to The beets 'which do i bellf-orank--lever with the th the groups of the long" comprises a pair of: rolls 4.9 and 50 which `feed the wire into a. tube 51, and from the `latter below the staple-former 39, the roll 49 the tube 58, andvfroin the latter below the staple-former 40, the roll 56 being provided with a ratchet-wheel 59 operated by a pawl G() ('.fznf'ried on the oscillating shaft 55, so that both pawls are actuated when vthis shaft-is rocked about its horizontal axis. The pawls 53 and 60 are, of course, pivoted at their upper ends on short. arms (see Figs. 8 and 9) fixed on the shaft 55, so that when the arm 5ft nieves upward the pawls 53 and 60 move downward. The roll 56 is, however, somewhat larger than the roll 49, so that the feedino' movement of the Wire is greater in. the tube 58 than it is in the' tube 51, thus cruising the ditlerencein the length of the staples. Said feed-rolls are all suitably` nibunted on the bracket-arm 61, and the lower rolls ot the two pairs are controlled by springftension-de'viees 62, of aJ well-known term, so that the wire is properly gripped between the rolls, The arm 54 is Connected by a pitnian 63 with the reciprocating member 6ft, which latter is provided With a roll 65 to be engaged by the cani 66 on the shaft l'l a spring (i7 being connected between the e G8 o'l the bodydrame and the upper portion of said member, and a pivot G9 bein proviciled between the lower end of said :ii t 'i and the upper end of saidlnei'nber. The earn G6 is ot a shape and size, and is so positioned onthe shaft H, that the shaft 55 is roclnuil at the proper time-to ac'nate the feed-rolls and the wire below 'the stapl orii'iers when. the latter are in raised pr in, as will be readily understood. A att 707 chine, sli

f" mounted transiwsersely of the ma i canins 71 and 72 :for engaging the pawls y60 and so that when one pawl is out of en gagement with its alloted `ratChet-wheel,

the other pawl is in operative relation to its.v t

ratehehwheel, thereby preclnding the operation of both pairs of feed-rolls at the rsanne tii'ne. The shaft 70 is provided with a onnected by a link 74 with a .be latter being pivoted at itserallli-arin T liirell-eranlr t. elbow on its bracket 7G on the body-traine. ,A linhl 77 connects the upper end4 of` -hi outer end por f of bell ank-lever 78 which is pivote on the of the ,f lgnide` B to swing, in. a horizontal plane. `The bell,-cranklever A78 has its other end 79I shaped to enter the,

channel of guide B (see litigslpl() and` 11) through a lateral opening in said guide, so that it is in the path of the cleats. Consequently. this bell-crank is pressed outward by the cleats,lcausing the shaft T0 to rock or turn in its bearings. Thisy causes the cam 72 to throw out the pawl 53, thus rendering the feed-rolls 49 and 5() inoperative, but vleaving thev pawl 60 in position to operate the ratchet-wheel 59, -so that wire will be fed only by the rolls 56 and 5T, thus driving a series of staples 37 cross-wise of the wires and into the sheets and cleats. iVhen the portion 79 of the bell-crank 78 again moves into th' opposite gaps in the two rows of cleats are brought into position, are then driven, for the reason that the pawl 60 is thrown outV by the rcani 7l, leaving the pawl 53 in position to actuate the ratchet-wheel 52, whereby no wire is fed by the rolls 56 and 57 when the two pawls 53 l and 60 are moved downward. Thus, the

' devices for feeding the `wire for the staples are automatically controlled by means of a device which engages the cleats.' This isA not to prevent the driving of staples between blanks, or between the separate sections ot a blank, but simply to change the length of the staples, so that long staples will be driven in the sections Y having the cleats X, While the short staples will beg driven in the sections Y which have no cleats. A spring 80, Aor any other suitable means, can be appliedj'tov the bell-crank-lever 78 to hold the'portionf79 yieldingly in the path of the cleats.

' It is also desirable, as previously stated, to prevent the ydriving of any staplesfwhatever 4in the spaces between blanks, as well between the sections ofthe same blank. This is ,accomplished by means of a rockshaft 8l mounted transversely of the ma-4 chine immediately above the shaft 70, andsupported in suitable bearings on the bodyframe. Ihas a` fiat side or cam This shaftportion Si). arranged in -position to bearv against the pawls 53 and 60, and when this shaft is turned so that the flat side is out of engagement with the pawls, the latter are thereby disengaged from their respective ratchet-wheels. Preferably, this is done automatically by means of a pitman. 83 which is connected to the crank-arm 84 on said shaft S1, which pitlnan is connected to a bell-crank S5 pivoted-on the main frame. '.lhis bell-crank is connected by a horizontal link 8G with the movable end of a pivotlever S7, which latter is provided at an in.- terinediate point with a roller 88 arranged in iosition to engagethe side ot' the chain or linlebclt l) (see Figs. l0 and 11), whereby this lever 8T is vibrated about its axis or pivotal lpoint S) to rock the shaft 81 whenever any of the blocks E or F are engaged by the roller 88, thus rendering the path of the cleats, When,the two the short staples 38 .staples are clenched on the inner surface of position with the roller 88 in the path of the blocks E and F, against the side of the chain, so that this lever will be pushed outward by said blocks and then automatically moved back toward the chain while the latter is moving along. Thus, when the roller 88 is pushed outward and away from the chain, by the blocks E and F, the devices for feeding the wire for the staples are all rendered inoperative, and no staples are driven. It will be understood that the stapler-head K is provided with wire-feeding devices like those of the stapler-head L, such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, so that both of these stapler-heads are subject to control by the bell-erankdever 7S in the manner previously described. The middle head J, however, is not equipped with these devices, as it only drives one size of staple, but it is provided, it will be understood, with a wire-feeding device which is subject to control by the shaft 8l, so that the operation of this stapler-head is controlled by the lever 8T to automatically prevent the driving of staples l between blanks, and also between sections oifthe same blank, along the middle wire 3l qf the blanks.

blank`so that each endof the box will have four eleats'iorniing a rectangular frame. Said cleats, it will be understood, can be provided with tonguc-andgrooveformations at their ends, so that the cleats X of the blank will interlock with the similar cleats on the end walls, when the blank is folded. Y

It will be seen that the-staples 38 are located a greater distance inward from the side edges of the blank than are the staples 37, so as to reduce the liability of splitting the veneer at the edges, and that these the sheet-material of which the sections Y are made. This is accomplished by suitably locating the two staple-drivers '14 of the staple-heads K and L, one driver ot each pair, together with 'its coperatlng elements, being disposed a little farther toward the longitudinal center of the blank than the other. Furthermore, i't will be seen that .the portion 79 of the lever 78 is in the nature ot' a clench-block or anvil, being disposed (when in the path of the cleats) box, each end wall having a pair of cleats to fill the gaps in the rows of cleats on the directly under the staple-former 39, and the staple-driver cooperating with the latter, so that all of the short staples are clenched on `this portion 79 ,which swings into and out of the path of the cleats. It will be under stood, of course, that a similar clench-block is mounted to operate at the other side of .the machine, in conjunction with the staplerfor when it swings into the path of the cleats it not only becomes operatlve to clvench the short staples, but also serves by this movement to stop the driving of the long staples and start the driving of the short staples.

` "if The fingers e are .spaced apart a distance bi1 eachv link-belt substantially equal to the combined length of two cleats, so that each belt is operative to propel cleats for only every other section of the blank, which sutiicient for the purl'iose, iiiasn'nlch as every other cleat is omitted. As shown, the cleats at one side edge of the blank are omitted on. the same sections on which they are omitted at the other side edge' of the blank.` It is obvious, however, that the blocks E and F vcan be adjusted or rearran'ged on the two link-belts in such a manner that the cleats gaps in'the other row of cleats, the cleats" of f at one side will be directly opposite the gaps in the row of cleats at the other side, whereby each section of the blank will have a cleat at one side of the blank, but will haveno cleat at ,the other side edge of the blank. In other words, the blocks E will not be opposite each other on the two link-belts, but will be opposite the` blocks F, so that the gaps in onek row of cleats lwill alternate 'wlth the the two rows being staggered, so Ato speak, and fingers e of one linkbclt` alternating with the similar fingers on the other linkbelt. In such case, obviously, the clenchblock at the other Sido of the machine (simi.- lar to the clench-block 79) will be connected to control the wirefeed-mechanism of the stapler-head K, so that long staples will be driven at one side at the same time that short staples are driven at Aie other side. The invention, therefore, isi'fiiotA limited to the production of a boxblankmp the exact or particular form and constructionshown and described. But in either case, aswill be seen, only some of the cleats are secured to the' blank, during the process of ma ufac= ture thereof, so that no endwise spacing apart of the cleats is necessary, there being no end-to-end relation of the cleats at any point on the blank. Consequently, the use of many of the devices heretofore considered necessary for spacing between adjacent endsy of the cleats is 'entirely obviated.

Thus the device 78, it will be seen, and its elench-block 7 9, and thefconnecting elements leading to this device 78, are operatively connected to the feeding means (the ratchet' feed device 20, 21, 22, etc.) through the .meidium of the feed belt D, and through the medium of the cleats, whereby power is `con'ununicated from said feeding means for automatically controlling the stapling mech i anism, in the manner previously described.

nected witbltthe feeding means to atutinnathr cally contr he action of the staliling :faccia anism.

4Each of the stapler-s J, l, L has a, guidewheel 91 disposed a distance in advance of the stapling position, to engage the h ding wire, whereby all three binding wires will be guided proliierly below the stapl The aplers are stationary, it will be seen, as they are mounted to occupy fixed positions d uring the operation of the machin g move along to drive the staples. To start the machine, the binding wire must be pulled down by hand and arranged in position to receives the staples. But after the front staples are driven, `so that the three wires are fastened to the .first section of the blank. the feed'belts D then pull the wires along with the blank. And in this way, "aid belts `serve to automatically 'feed the'sl'ieets and cleats and wires forward below the Staplers.

The belts D can be of any suitable character, but preferably each belt consists of a series of single plates (l connected end-toend by short double links 9&2, and the blocks E and F are adjustable along these plates. ,()bviously, the devices 79 and 88 are operative to control the action of the Staplers for any relative.adjustment of these blocks E and F, so that cleats ot different lengths can be used for the nnniufacture of blanks ot different lengths. V

I do not limit n'iyself ,to the exact constructioii shown and described.' f

lVhat I claim as my invention is :W

- 1. A machine for making foldable box;

blanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheetv and do 'not Ihaving one set of material, comprising nieans to feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, with the cleats omitted at intervals on each blank, mechanism to staple the lwires to the sheet-matcrial and cleats, and devices associated with said means and periodically operated during the forward feeding` movements of the sheets and cleats for automatically controlling said mechanism to drive long staples into the cleats and shortJ staples where the cleats are omitted.

2. A machine for makingr foldable boxblaiiks by attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising intermittently operated means to feed the cleats and sheetmaterial forward, with the cleats omitted at intervals on each blank, mechanism to staple the Wires to the sheet-material and cleats, and devices associated with said means and.

periodicallyoperated during the forward feeding movements of the sheets and cleats for automatically controllingl said mechanism to drive long staples into the cleats and short staples Where the cleats are omitted, said devices including an element to engage the sides of the cleats.

3. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising means to -feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, wit-li the cleats omitted at intervals on each blank,

stationary mechanism to staple the wires to the sheet-material and cleats, and devices associated Wlth said means and periodically operated during thoforward feeding movements ofthe sheets and cleats for automatically long staples into the cleats and short staples where the cleats are omitted, said mechanism elements to make and drive ythe'long staples and. another set of elements tomake and drive the short staples.

4.*'A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching vwires and cleats to sheet-material` coi'nprising means to feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, with the cleats omitted at intervals on each blank, mechanism to staple the wires to the sheetmaterial and cleats, and devices for autocontrolling said mechanism to drive long staples into the cleats and short staples where the cleats are omitted, said mechanisin being constructed to insertihe short staples at points farther inward from the side .edges of the blanks than the long inatically 5. A machine for making foldahle boxblanks by attaching wires and' cleats to sheet-material, comprising means to feed the cleats'and sheet-material forward, with'tfhc cleats omitted at intervalson each blank, mechanism to staple the wires to the shcetf material and cleats,and devices for antomatically controlling said mechanism to controlling said mechanism to drive: y

where the cleats are omitted, 'and means con-l drive long staples into the cleats and short staples where the cleats are omitted, said devices including means to feed different lengths of wire from which to make the staples, and said mechanism having a narrow staple-former to bend the short lengths and a wide staple-former to bend the greater lengths.

6. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising means to feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, with the cleats 'omitted at intervals on each blank, and with a'space between adjacent blanks, mechanism to staple the wires to the sheetmaterial and cleats, devices associated with said means and periodically opel-'ated during the forward feeding movements of the sheets and cleats .for automatically controlling said Amechanism to drive long staples into the cleats and short staples where the cleats are omitted, and means controlled by said forward .feeding motion to prevent the driving of any staples between blanks.

7. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching `wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising means to feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, with the` to the sheet-material andcleats, devices associated with said means and periodically operated during the forward feeding movements of the sheets and cleats .for automatically controlling said mechanism to drive long staples into the cleats and short staples trolled by said forward feeding motion to prevent the drivingof any staples between the sections of each blank.

8. .A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and cleats to` sheet material, comprising means to feed thc cleats and sheet-materialforward` with thc'cleatsoinitted at intervals on each blank, mechanism to staple the wiresto the sheetniaterial' and cleats, and devices for vautomatically controlling said mechanism to drivelong staples into the cleats and short staples where the' cleats are omitted, said devices including an element able into the path of the cleats the short staples.

9. A machinel for making foldable boxblanks by attaching Wires and cleats to sheetinaterial, comprising means to feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, `with the cleats omitted at intervals on each blank, mechato clench which is movcluding an element operated by the cleats and provided with means toclench the short staples.

10. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and cleats to street4 material, comprising guides for the cleats,

' endless link-belts arranged to travel parallel with said guides, means on said belts to engage and carry the sheet-materia-lgriingers on said belts to engage the rear ends of the` cleats, the `fingers of each belt being spaced apart a, distance substantially equal to the combined length of two cleats, so that each belt is operative to propel and position cleats for only every other section of the blank, leaving spaces where the cleats are omitted, mechanism to staple the wires to the cleats and sheet-material, means topclench the staples by clenching operations performed in said spaces, and devices to operate said belts. 11. A. machine for making foldable box-- blanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheetmaterial, comprising guides for the cleats,

endless luik-belts arranged to travel parallel with said guides, means on said belts toy engage and carmry the sheet-material, lingers on said belts to engage the rear ends of the cleats, the fingers of each belt being spaced apart a distance substantially equal tothe combined length of two cleats, so that each belt is operative to propel and position cleats for only every other section of the blank, leaving spaces where thewcieatsmare omitted, stationary mechanism to staple theyyires to the cleats and sheet-material,devicesltodntermittently operate said belts, and means.

combined length of two cleats, so that each belt is operative to propel and position cleats ,for only every other section of the blank, leaving spaces in the guides where the cleats are omitted, mechanism to staple the wires to the cleats and sheet-material, devices for operating said link-belts intermittently/,and devices operatively connected to said feeding meansv and arranged. to be operated by power communicated therefrom for automatically controlling said mechanism to drive long staples in the cleats and;

short staples `where the cleats are omitted.

13. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheetmaterial, comprising guides fori-the cleats,

endless link-belts arranged to travel parallel with said guides, means on said belts te engage and carry the sheet material in a plane above the cleats, fingers on said belts to engage the rear ends of the cleats, the iingers of each belt being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the combined length of two cleats, so that each belt is ,operative to propel and position cleats for only every other section of the blank, leaving spaces v-where the cleats are omitted, mechanism to staple the wires to the cleats and sheetmaterial, devices to operate said belts, an element movable into the path of the cleats, and means operated by said element to control said mechanism and canse the driving of long staples inthe cleats and short staples where the' cleats are omitted.

14. In a stapling machine, a movable element having means to clench the staples, and devices governed by said element to control the driving of thestaples.

15. The said machine (substantially as set forth in claim 14), and means to`feed material into position for stapling, said element being movable into and out of the path of said material. v

i6. The said machine (substantially as set forth in claim 14), and means to feed material into position for stapling, said element being operated by said material during the feedin r movements thereof.

17, lhe said machine (substantiallyas set forth in claim 14), said machine having mechanism controlled by said devices to a1- `tcrnately drive short and long staples.

18. A machine for making foldable boxblanks byl attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising guides for the cleats, endless link-belts arranged to travel Vparallel with said guides, means on said belts to engage and carry the sheet-material, fingers on `said belts to engage the rear ends.

of the cleats, the lingers of; each belt bein spaced apart a distance snbstantiallyequa' to the combined length of two cleats, so that each belt isoperative to propel and position cleats for only everyother section'of the blank, leaving spaces where the cleats are omitted, mechanism to staple the Wires to the cleats and sheet-material, devices to opcrate said belts, and a hopper to automatically -feed said cleats and sheet-material in proper order to said belts.

'19. ,A xnachineior making foldable'boxblanks by, attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising a. staple forming and driving mechanism for inserting staples to secure the wires and,y cleats to the sheet-material, a device to feed ,wire to said mechanism for the staples, and a movable element for elcnching staples and connected to control `the operation of said device.

)20. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and .cleats to sheet-material, devices for stapling the wires and cleats to the sheets of each blank with the cleats in parallel rows and with spaces therein where some of the cleats are omitted, and means to clench the staples by stapling operations performed in said spaces.

21. In a stapling machine, a staple forming and drivin 'mechanism, devices to feed the materia s into position to receive the staples, and means controlled by said devices during the feeding movements thereof to automatically vary the length of the staples driven in each blank.

22. A machine for making box-blanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising devices for stapling the wires and cleats to the sheets of each blank with the cleats in parallel rows, and with spaces therein Where some'of the lcleats are omitted, and means including-2, an element which is movable into and outof the path of the cleats to clench the staples in said spaces.

23. A machine for making box-blanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheet-material, comprising mechanism for drivin staples to attach the wires and leats to t e sheetmaterial, belts having blocks thereon to position and feed vthe cleats and sheets into position to receive the staples, and means including a device operated intermittently by engagement with said blocks to control theaction oflsaid mechanism.

24. A machine for making box-blanks b f attaching wires and cleats to sheet-materia comprising devices for stapling the wires and cleats to the sheets of each blank with the cleats in parallel rows and with spaces therein where some of the cleats are omitted, and means to clench the staples and prevent depression of the sheet-material into said spaces by said devices durin the attaching of the wires where the c eats are omitted.

25. A machine for making foldable boxblanks by attaching wires and cleats to sheetm'aterial, comprising means to feed the cleats and sheet-material forward, vwith the cleats omitted at intervalrsbn each blank, mechanism to staple the Wires to the sheet-material and cleats, and devices operatively c0nnected to said feeding means'and arranged to be operated by power communicated therefrom for automatically controlling said mechanism to drive long staples into the cleats and short staples where the cleats are omitted.

26. A machine for making wire-bound box-blanks by stapling parallel binding wires and parallel rows of cleats to sheet material, comprising stapling mechanism, means for feeding the' cleats and sheets to said mechanism, with the cleats extending in parallel rows, and with gaps in said rows where some of the cleats are omitted, and means for feeding the binding wires to said mechanism, so that the wires are stapled to vthe sheet material and cleats to flexibly connect the previously unconnected sections of the blank, and means operating where the cleats are omitted to support the sheet material against the pressure of said mechanism.

8th day of December, .1916.

EDWARD CRAIG.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 

